Tony Parker wins EuroLeague coaching debut as ASVEL downs Maccabi Tel Aviv
Parker didn't waste any time. His first EuroLeague game on the ASVEL bench turned into a statement. The head coach earned his first win as a EuroLeague coach, as ASVEL Villeurbanne defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 84-74 in Lyon. ASVEL sits at 1-0. It's one game, and it's a winning start.
Crowder leads a balanced attack
Jae Crowder did the heavy lifting. He put up 19 points and dished 4 assists. In the first half alone, Crowder was on fire, playing great basketball on both ends of the floor. Patty Mills and Crowder brought the experience, poise and consistency that steadied ASVEL throughout the night, while Marc-Owen Fodzo Dada played with fearless, youthful energy. Hugo Besson also contributed in a big way on both ends, rounding out a night built on hot shooting from deep — ASVEL's revamped roster and strong 3-point shooting delivered an important victory to open the season and set the expectation that they will compete this season.
ASVEL 84 - 74 Maccabi Tel Aviv · EuroLeague 2026-2027 · 24/09/2026
Leaders
| ASVEL | Maccabi Tel Aviv | |
|---|---|---|
| PTS | Jae Crowder 19 | Jaylen Hoard 15 |
| REB | Joel Bolomboy 6 | Oshae Brissett 7 |
| AST | Marc-Owen Fodzo Dada 5 | Yam Madar 8 |
Team stats
| ASVEL | Maccabi Tel Aviv | |
|---|---|---|
| FG | 46.6% | 44.4% |
| 3PTS | 16/34 | 7/29 |
| FT | 14/20 | 11/15 |
| REB | 29 | 38 |
| OREB | 6 | 10 |
And hot is the right word. ASVEL drilled 16 of 34 from 3-point range — 47.1% — while Maccabi Tel Aviv clanked its way to just 7 of 29 (24.1%). That gap on the perimeter told the story. The quarter scores — 19-19, 23-13, 20-25, 22-17 — show exactly where ASVEL pulled away. Tel Aviv also played sloppy, turning the ball over 20 times.
The turning point
The real swing in the game came in the third quarter, when Yves Pons and Tremont Waters checked in off the bench. Waters made several defensive plays — steals and drawn charges — while Pons grabbed two offensive rebounds and drilled two 3-pointers back-to-back, then finished an alley-oop layup plus the foul about 30 seconds later. That burst sparked an ASVEL run the team never looked back from, even as Maccabi outscored the hosts 25-20 in that frame.
A response after a rough preseason
This win didn't come out of nowhere — it came after a bumpy preseason. The preseason ended with a disappointing defeat to Roanne in the SuperCup semifinals, but ASVEL showed its resilience by regrouping and beating a Maccabi Tel Aviv team with layoff aspirations, 84-74 and giving Parker his first win as the club's head coach. he welcomed the result but Parker framed the result as just the first step in a longer process. ASVEL carries a 1-0 record after the win over Maccabi Tel Aviv.
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